Monday, March 27, 2017

Many of the teens I talk with are much more politically aware than I was at their age. They are committed to addressing issues about racial and gender inequalities, about police brutality and racial profiling.

Teens are seeking out novels that grapple with these issues--and we adults need to read and share these novels, engaging with kids on their terms. The Hate U Give, by debut author Angie Thomas, has skyrocketed to the NYTimes bestseller list--and I hope it stays there all year, reaching as many readers as it can. This is a powerful, important book--one that needs to be in every middle and high school library.

Sixteen-year-old Starr navigates through two very different worlds: her home in a poor black urban neighborhood, and the suburban, privileged private school she attends. Her life changes dramatically when she witnesses the unprovoked police shooting of her best friend Khalil.

In the midst of coping with her intense personal grief, Starr must also figure out how to react when Khalil's death becomes national news. As violence erupts, Starr and her family are caught in the middle. Throughout this powerful novel, Thomas shows how the personal is political, especially for teenagers becoming explicitly aware of social issues around them.

Thomas writes explicitly about issues of race and class, creating both an authentic teen voice in Starr and exposing the systemic racism that impacts all of us. The police interview Starr, but will her courage and honesty coming forward make a difference? How will she react to the racism of her white friend Hailey, who writes Khalil off as a drug dealer? And yet, Thomas shows throughout that teens can be resilient and support each other.

Like her heroine Starr, Thomas draws inspiration from music and personal experience. Tupac's music and activism resonates throughout, even giving the title from his saying "Thug Life". I love this interview, especially how Thomas wants to show that her characters are like roses that grow in the concrete--how they might grow up in bad situations, but they're still shining.

While some reviews suggest this is for older teens, I firmly believe that The Hate U Give will resonate with many 7th and 8th graders. Kids read the news, they actively participate in social media. They see police killings in the news, whether it's on BuzzFeed or Twitter or the New York Times.
As one young teen told me,

"We are aware of the news. We have a right to know what's happening and shouldn't have these issues sugar-coated."

Young teens need to have space to process these events, to think about the impact on different communities, to feel their voices heard. Fiction can create this space.

Teens are going to pass this book from kid to kid. But it is also an important book for all adults to read--precisely because it can help us see the world through a teen's eyes. Starr's narration is immediate and intense, dramatic and passionate. Seek this out and then pass it on.

I purchased the review copy for my home library, and will purchase several more copies to give to teens and teachers I know. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.